9/2 Game Recap: Mets Bludgeoned By Braves 13-5

Today at Turner Field, an exhausted Mets team that checked into their hotel at around 4 AM, took on the Braves in the first game of a three game set.  Adding insult to injury, Daisuke Matsuzaka was on the mound for New York and pitched terribly in their eventual 13-5 loss.

Aug 28, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher

(16) reacts after hitting Philadelphia Phillies right fielder

Jr. (not pictured) with a pitch to drive in a run during the fifth inning of a game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Matsuzaka of course did Matsuzaka things right away, giving up 2 runs in the first inning before recording an out.  Matsuzaka got one of those runs back for the Mets in the top of the second with an RBI single that cut Atlanta’s lead to 2-1.  In the bottom of the second, Matsuzaka fell apart, giving up 5 runs after there were 2 outs as the Braves upped their lead to 6-1.  The big blow was a 3 run homer by Freddie Freeman.

The Mets got 2 runs back in the fourth, when Zach Lutz delivered an RBI double and Daniel Murphy hit a sacrifice fly.

With 2 outs in the fifth, Andrelton Simmons stroked a 2 run double down the left field line to make it 8-3 Braves.  Atlanta then added 2 more runs in the sixth off Pedro Feliciano to up their lead to 10-3.

The Mets chipped away a bit in the seventh, notching 2 runs to pull within 10-5 when Lucas Duda singled and Juan Lagares reached on an error (that should’ve been ruled a hit).

The Braves added 3 runs in the bottom of the eighth for good measure (the inning was blown up after a 2 run error at third base by Josh Satin) to up their lead to 13-5 and close out the scoring.

Highlights:

• Daisuke Matsuzaka got the start for the Mets and was dreadful.  He gave up 6 runs on 7 hits in 3 innings.  He walked 2 and struck out 3.  His ERA in 3 starts for the Mets is 10.95.

• Zach Lutz delivered a pinch hit RBI double in the 4th.

• Newly acquired Vic Black made his debut for the Mets in the 6th.  He acquired a bases loaded, 2 out jam, and coaxed an inning ending lazy fly out with a 97 MPH fastball on an 0-1 count.

Thoughts:

The Daisuke Matsuzaka experiment needs to end.  He’s not a major league caliber pitcher, is causing the bullpen to be overworked every time he starts, and is putting his teammates, the broadcasters, and the fans to sleep with his maddeningly slow pace.

Next Up:

The Mets and Braves play the second game of their three game set tomorrow night at 7:10.  Carlos Torres gets the start for New York.  He’ll be opposed by Kris Medlen.

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